The Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG) warned Wednesday of a disastrous automated 2010 national and local elections if the Commission on Election (Comelec) and technology provider Smartmatic will not allow the release of the source code that would ensure a more transparent and honest election.

In a press briefing, Evita Jimenez, CenPEG executive director, said that it is important for the Comelec headed by Chairman Jose T. Melo to release the source code because this is one of the safeguards against possible wholesale fraud or cheating.

She added that the source code ensures the integrity of the digital signature and rules on root user of the machines.

“What we are asking the Comelec is to tell us the truth: are they going to make this (source code) available to us for independent review because we are ready to provide the IT experts that will review this. Ang source code very vital for the viability of the 2010 national elections. We met them (Comelec officials) several times but up to know di pa nila na-release ang source code,” Jimenez told reporters during the Fernandina Forum at the Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan City.

“Ang source code kasi para iyan recipe para makabuo ng mahusay na election. Kapag nabago iyun, pag may isang nabago dun baka magka-problema. Let’s say computation ng votes. Count 1 for (President Gloria) Arroyo and Count 2 for (Senator Manny) Villar. Program ito na pwede nilang mabago ang counts. Pwede magka-dayaan kung hindi mabisita ang source code,” she added.

Jimenez said that if the Comelec wants to assure the people that everything will be orderly in next year’s elections, the holding of automated elections should be done according to the law.

The election modernization law (RA 9369), it was recalled, mandates the Comelec to provide a copy of the source code to all interested parties for review.